Atheroma + complications

Question 1

List some complications of atheroma

Answer 1

• Stenosis
• Aneurysm
• Embolism
• Thrombosis
• Dissection
• Ischemia.

Question 2

What is arterial stenosis?

Answer 2

Narrowing of the lumen of the artery.
Restricted blood flow. Reduced elasticity. Reduced flow in systole.
Ischemia in the tissue being supplied by the artery.

Question 3

What are some common arteries affected in arterial stenosis?

Answer 3

• Coronary
• Carotid: ITA, stroke, vascular dementia
• Renal: hypertension, renal failure
• Peripheral: claudication, foot/leg ischaemia.

Question 4

What is cardiac ischaemia? What are the effects?

Answer 4

Cardiac myocytes are poorly perfused, impaired function.
Effects:
-Reduced exercise tolerance
-Angina, stable angina
- MI
- Cardiac failure.

Question 5

What is cardiac fibrosis

Answer 5

Loss of cardiac myocytes. Replaced by increased fibrous tissue.

• Reduced contractility
• Reduced elasticity and filling.

Question 6

What can a plaque rupture often tirgger?

Answer 6

Thrombosis?

Question 7

What is the main effect of thrombosis? Where?

Answer 7

Infarction.

• MI
• Renal
• Cerebral
• Bowel

Question 8

What is an aneurysm?

Answer 8

Abnormal dilatation of an artery. Results in:

Weakening of the tunica media by atherosclerosis. Elastic degeneration and loss of stretch.

Question 9

What are some complications of aneurysm?

Answer 9

Rupture
Thrombus
Embolus
Infection

Question 10

What diseases can cause aortic dissection?

Answer 10

• atheroma
• hypertension
• trauma
• coarctation- congenital narrowing of part of aorta
• marfans syndrome- genetic diseasea affecting connective tissue in the body.
• pregnancy

Question 11

What are some of the common sites of athero-embolism?

Answer 11

• Cerebral infarct
• Renal infarct
• lower limb infarction